Few whitewater rafting trips anywhere on earth offer as much continuous, explosive whitewater as Idaho's Lochsa River* (pronounced Lock-Saw). This one to three day rafting trip is big white water that satisfies the appetite for thrills for intermediate and expert rafters. Some rivers are big and slow while others are fast and technical.

The Lochsa combines the best of both – it’s fast, technical and has a big volume of water. This makes for raft-smashing waves, big hydraulics and holes, and paddler-bashing excitement. Add supreme Idaho mountain scenery, talented guides and great service and you have the best whitewater rafting trips on the Lochsa River available.

Trip Description

Because there are no dams to artificially control the flow of the river, the river’s flow follows a bell curve, starting out low in the early spring, reaching its peak in late spring and then gradually dropping into the summer. It all begins sometime in April as warmer spring days start to melt the high-mountain snow. This brings the river level up and the Lochsa season begins. By mid-May temperatures are warmer than they were in April and consequently, more snow melts. This brings the river’s level up higher. May 15 to June 15 is generally the time of peak flows on the Lochsa. After June 15th the river levels begin to gradually taper off. Bear in mind that every year is different and flows depend on how much snow is in the mountains and whether or not we have a cool, wet spring or a warm, dry spring. There are many variables that make any exact predictions impossible. But over the decades that we’ve been running the Lochsa, peak flows are usually from May 15 to June 15.

Does this mean that this is the “best” time to run the Lochsa? Not necessarily. The answer depends on what you are looking for. Those with previous rafting experience who are seeking maximum thrills will want to join us during this high water season. Others may prefer those times when the river is somewhat lower, the weather is warmer and the technical challenges of the river increase. After mid-June, as the water drops, more and more rocks and boulders become exposed creating some of the most challenging technical whitewater rafting in the country. It requires extra finesse and skill to guide the rapids at this time of year. Temperatures also increase warming the water and making for beautiful summer rafting days. As we approach early July the river becomes even more technical. We run the Lochsa every year as long as we can and this will vary, depending on the winter snows and spring weather. In general we go until about July 10th. Some years we have to stop earlier and on other years we’ve run until July 20th or so. Even at lower flows the Lochsa knocks the socks off most other rivers in terms of exciting whitewater.

Note that we have minimum age recommendations. If you are a family with teenagers, join us after June 15th when the river isn’t quite so big and the weather is warmer. You’ll still find this to be one of the most exciting whitewater trips in the world!

The Lochsa River was one of the original six rivers protected by the U.S. Congress in 1968 as part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, in part because it is one of the world's greatest whitewater trips. If you've ever rafted West Virginia's Gauley or California's Tuolumne, compare these to the Lochsa and you'll find a new pinnacle of whitewater rafting excitement.

Lochsa whitewater rafting adventures begin and end at the River Dance Lodge, Idaho's Outdoor Adventure Resort. Situated along the banks of the Clearwater River and surrounded by spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery, the River Dance Lodge is the perfect all-inclusive vacation resort if you're looking for a weekend getaway to go with your Lochsa whitewater trip. Package pricing is available.

Best Vacation Ever!
August 2017

5.0

Value 5.0

Guide 5.0

Activities 5.0

Lodging 3.0

Transportation 5.0

Meals 5.0

The Family Magic Trip down the lower Salmon River in August was AMAZING! The guides were awesome! So knowledgeable, funny, and resourceful. The food was better than most restaurants and my kids loved it (as did I)! The River Jester (Lily) was such a sweet yet stern and fun lady that kept the kids entertained and they loved her. They setup camp for us each day at these amazing beaches! I have never been rafting, and they were there to make it seem easy and doable! I loved that they taught us about the local history and environments. A stop at Spalding was awesome start to the trip! I enjoyed the paddle boats, inflatable kayaks, and the oar boats. I even became part of the swim team but it was a good experience having the guides there to ensure our safety. I loved cliff jumping, the short hikes, swimming the rapids, and swimming in the river with the kids. The time with friends and family was great. It was so relaxing and good to meet so many different people I feel that I can call my friends now. Best part was sleeping under the stars with my family hearing the rushing river next to us. The guides made the trip so personal and they were caring! Thanks so much Mark, Max, Connie, Jonas, Curtis, Lily, and Bethany! Absolutely recommend going on a trip with ROW and I plan to with my children again, it was worth every penny! Thanks Jason for helping plan the trip for me!

Operator ROW Adventures

K

KS

Recommends

There is no better getaway than somewhere with ROW
August 2015

5.0

Value 5.0

Guide 5.0

Activities 5.0

Lodging 5.0

Transportation 5.0

Meals 5.0

We just got back from a Family Magic Trip thru the SRC...our 3rd trip with you guys (and the first with the kiddos). We've done the Middle Fork, the Rogue and now this. We're hooked and are already talking about where to go next. You guys are phenomenal and then some. It's the only kind of trip I ever want my kids to take...and appreciate the real things in life. ✌️

Operator ROW Adventures

A

Angela

Recommends

Would love to go again!
August 2015

5.0

Value 5.0

Guide 5.0

Activities 5.0

Lodging 5.0

Transportation 5.0

Meals 5.0

I just took my two kids on their Family Adventure trip down the Salmon River in Idaho for five days. Wow was it amazing! Not just the scenery and fun but the guides were superb as well! I've been telling everyone that will listen that they need to book this trip.

Operator ROW Adventures

JS

Julia S

Recommends

A great way to get off the beaten path!
January 2017

5.0

Value 5.0

Guide 5.0

Activities 5.0

Lodging 5.0

Transportation 5.0

Meals 5.0

ROW Adventures is a great way to get off the beaten path and experience our wonderful wilderness with a set of wonderful guides. I am not sure which was the best part of our 6 day trip on The River of No Return; the guides, the food, meeting new people, the river... But all seemed to fall into a wonderful rhythm that perfectly complimented each other. My family was very concerned that we even signed up for this type of vacation. It is one thing to go floating in the wild in your young, but quite different when you are many years down the road and suffer from chronic pain. For some reason, the cooler water if the river, time to give back to ur soul, the daily stops to visit the hot springs, the wonderful healthy great tasting food, and encouragement of our guides all seemed to bring back the youth of our younger days gone by. We smiled, giggled, shared great drink and laughed at the joke after joke. But most of all, it was the guides that made our trip as each day unfolded. Each guide brought back the youth of our soul through the morning stretches, the stories of past explorers, and the shared fishing tackle! Now my next wish is to embark on a new ROW adventure with my son so we can share a new chapter of complete happiness in our beautiful wilderness...Maybe Hells Canyon or their adventure that offers trail riding and fast river rafting! Either way, it is something for everyone no matter what your age!

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Details

Optional Activities

Combination trips with mountain biking and/or hiking also available.

Meals Included:

1 Lunch

Flights & Transport

Only ground transport

Group Size:

Small Group - 24 max

Our guest to guide ratio is six guests per guide.

Accomodations

Trips depart and end at our own River Dance Lodge, which was nominated as one of National Geographic’s top 150 places to stay. All-inclusive Lochsa packages that combine rafting, dining and accommodations in our rustic luxury log cabins with private hot tubs are available for your convenience.

Start City

Syringa

End City

Syringa

Guides

Most of our guides are Certified Interpretive Guides, an independant national certification from the National Association of Interpretation. This means your whitewater experience will be enriched with stories about the Nez Perce Indians, the Lewis & Clark trail, local area history and flora and fauna.

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations And Refunds

If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, you should notify ROW Adventures in writing, by e-mail or fax immediately. If written cancellation is received (call to verify) before the final balance is due, you will be given a refund less the amount of the deposit. Deposits are not refundable. If cancellations are made on or after the final due date, no money will be refunded. If you are unable to go on the trip, you are welcome to find a replacement for yourself. Please understand that once you’ve signed up, we lose the right to sell your reserved space to other individuals or groups. Therefore, we regret that we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason we strongly recommend you consider purchasing the Travel Protection Plan ROW offers.

Age Notes

Minimum age is 17 in high water

Min. Age: 15

Additional Information:

ROW is proud to be an Equal Opportunity recreation service provider under permit from the U.S. Forest Service. We operate under special use permit from the Clearwater National Forest. All our operations and facilities are operated on a non-discriminatory basis. ROW is bonded and fully licensed by the states of Idaho, Washington and Oregon. We are members of: America Outdoors, Idaho Outfitters and Guides Assn., Montana Outfitters and Guides Assn., National Association of Interpretation; Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation and many other effective organizations.

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